Allen said Friday that the views expressed by Griffin and Shanahan reflect "a very competitive player who's dying to play football" and "a very experienced coach who's doing the right thing."

Griffin has expressed a desire to practice more and to play in preseason games as he returns from knee surgery. Shanahan has taken a more cautious approach.

The Redskins have a vivid history of quarterback controversies. Allen's father, George Allen, had perhaps the most famous: Sonny Jurgensen vs. Billy Kilmer in the 1970s.

Allen says, "I know somehow Billy and Sonny are laughing that we created a quarterback controversy with Robert Griffin."

***

NEW YORK GIANTS

Giants prepare for preseason game vs Colts

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Last year, Rueben Randle was a second-round draft pick for the New York Giants, Stevie Brown was an unproven free agent safety and Michael Cox was a graduate student in training camp at the University of Massachusetts.

Now Randle has more of a defined role with the Giants receiving corps, capitalizing on the off-season experience he gained during the absence of starters Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz.

Brown, previously cut by two different NFL teams, is the strong safety after collecting a team-high eight interceptions.

Cox, the seventh-round draft pick, was the Giants' leading rusher in the preseason opener last Saturday against Pittsburgh.

The Giants are preparing for their second preseason game against Indianapolis on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium. All three realize that they have a chance to contribute against the Colts and during the season.

"I know I definitely don't want to take a step back," said Randle, who was a standout at LSU before joining the Giants last year. "I want to keep moving forward. I want to become more of a play maker."

Randle caught 19 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns last season, starting one game and seeing action in all 16 contests. He said that he worked hard in the offseason, just in case Nicks or Cruz would not be ready. Even with both of the Giants' top receivers in camp, Randle is still doing his due diligence.

"I feel like I'm a better receiver now," Randle said. "I did a lot of work on my strength and conditioning."

***

PHILADELPHIA

Rejuvenated Vick looks better than ever

PHILADELPHIA-- Michael Vick has his swagger back.

When last season ended, Vick was beat up physically and worn down mentally. He was uncertain of his future with the Philadelphia Eagles and his confidence was shaky.

Then Chip Kelly showed up, Vick stuck around, and the rejuvenated quarterback has never looked better than he has in the first two preseason games.

"I'm having fun playing football and I fell in love with the game again and I am thankful for that," Vick said after going 9 for 10 for 105 yards in a 14-9 win over Carolina on Thursday night.

"You've got to play this game with intense passion and purpose and I thank Coach Kelly for what he has done for me and that's just giving me that confidence that I felt like I was losing at some point in my career. You just have to keep working hard and when you do that, you get the results that you want. But I can't be satisfied with this performance. It's a long season and we have a lot of work to do and I understand that and I can't lose sight of that."

Vick restructured his contract, took a pay cut and had no assurances he'd even make the roster when he returned to the Eagles. He's been competing with Nick Foles for the starting job since Kelly's arrival and still isn't guaranteed anything at this point.

But Vick has outplayed Foles, who also looks sharp running Kelly's up-tempo offense. Through two games, Vick is 13 of 15 for 199 yards, one TD, one desperation-pass interception and a passer rating of 113.1. Foles is 11 of 14 for 96 yards, no TDs, one pick and a passer rating of 65.7 in two games.

"I think we have two quarterbacks that can play in an NFL game, so we'll continue to look at it," Kelly said. "But you feel better about that situation. Sometimes I think you get nervous because you don't have anybody, and it's a default decision, but again, I thought both those guys played well."

***

DETROIT

Lions sign DTs Bannan, Drew

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions have signed defensive tackles Justin Bannan and John Drew and released cornerback Conroy Black and defensive end Braylon Broughton.

The team announced the moves Friday. The Lions also released linebacker Carmen Messina from the reserve-injured list.

Bannan started 15 games for the Denver Broncos last season. The 34-year-old Bannan joins a Detroit defensive front that already includes tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley.

Drew is an undrafted rookie out of North Carolina Central.

***

PITTSBURGH

Steelers RB Bell returns to practice

LATROBE, Pa. -- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Le'Veon Bell said Friday the left knee injury he re-aggravated during practice a day earlier isn't believed to be serious.

The second-round draft pick called the injury "nothing major" and practiced in a limited capacity Friday. He did not participate in team drills.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Bell has a "clean bill of health." It remains uncertain whether Bell will be available when the Steelers play in Washington on Monday night.

***

INDIANAPOLIS

Colts leave camp still trying to find answers

ANDERSON, Ind. -- The Indianapolis Colts came to training camp to see how much they had improved over last season.

They left Friday still looking for answers.

"I think once we get everybody healthy and we get everybody back, we've got a chance to be really good (defensively), especially in the back end," Pagano said. "Once LaRon (Landry) gets back, the corner position, I think we've really upgraded and solidified ourselves there. If you stay healthy there, we've got a chance."

This year's training camp was atypical.

The rookie class, which was expected to help fill some of last season's glaring holes, didn't get much of a chance to prove itself.

As first-round choice Bjoern Werner continued the transition from college defensive end to NFL linebacker, he sat out late last week with a left knee injury and missed the preseason opener. Offensive lineman Hugh Thornton, a third-round pick expected to compete for a starting job, sprained his right ankle in a rookie mini-camp practice and didn't practice at Anderson University.

Fourth-round selection Khaled Holmes, expected to compete for playing time at center, sprained his right ankle on Day 4 and hasn't been back yet. Defensive tackle Montori Hughes, Indy's fifth-rounder, has been out this week with a stinger and sixth-round choice John Boyett is still on the nonfootball injury list.

The injury rash even hit some of the Colts' high-profile, high-priced free agents.

Running back Ahmad Bradshaw was forced to come off the physically unable to perform list early after he participated in a walkthrough drill in Week 2 but still has not worked out in pads. Landry, a two-time Pro Bowler, hurt his left knee and missed the final 10 days of practice. Cornerback Greg Toler missed a few days with a concussion and more than a dozen Colts' sat out the 44-20 loss to Buffalo.

***

INDIANAPOLIS

Colts TE Dwayne Allen gets rid of boot on foot

ANDERSON, Ind. -- Colts tight end Dwayne Allen got rid of the walking boot on his injured right foot Friday -- the final day of practice at Anderson University.

Allen hasn't practiced since complaining of foot pain last Wednesday. Coach Chuck Pagano has said Allen is expected to miss a couple of weeks, but the Colts remain hopeful he will be healthy enough to return for the Sept. 8 season opener against Oakland.

Pagano said Allen would be using a combination of an orthopedic in his shoe a walking boot others as he recovers.

The Colts other prominent tight end, Coby Fleener, was scheduled to have another concussion test later Friday. If he passes, Fleener would be cleared to play Sunday night at New York.

Mingo, the No. 6 overall pick in this year's draft, is at The Cleveland Clinic. Browns coach Rob Chudzinski says Mingo will spend at least one more night in the hospital and adds he's not sure how Mingo got hurt in the first half of Thursday night's game against Detroit.

Mingo was one of five Browns players injured in Cleveland's 24-6 win. Running back Dion Lewis broke his left leg and will need surgery.

It's possible the Browns will place the versatile Lewis, acquired in a trade from Philadelphia in March, on injured reserve.

***

CAROLINA

Panthers Newton plans to tackle adversity head on

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has a plan to become a better leader: He intends to keep his frustrations in check because in the past they've been a distraction to his teammates.

Newton took mistakes hard, his competitive drive leading to him getting down on himself -- during and after games.

He told The Associated Press, "Oh man, I had it bad. I still do have it to some degree."

But Newton is changing his approach, and his new motto is: "Next play."

The third-year pro has put up record-setting numbers, but says he has learned that his public sulking "can be a turnoff" and isn't helping the team.

Newton's teammates believe he improved dramatically last season when the Panthers won five or their last six games.

Then came a few more, and a couple of calls. Lansanah's agent was desperately trying to get in touch with his client last December.

"He was blowing my phone up, but I was at work," the New York Jets linebacker recalled with a laugh after a recent training camp practice. "After like the fifth or sixth call, I'm like, 'Man, it's probably something important.'"

Ed Wasielewski tried reaching him through Twitter and Facebook, too, before Lansanah finally stepped away from his job at Alternative Rehabilitation Communities in Harrisburg, Pa., and called him back. The news stunned Lansanah: The Jets had seen him play in a United Football League game a few months earlier and wanted to bring him in for a tryout.

Two weeks later, the 27-year-old Lansanah signed with the Jets and was back in the NFL for the first time since the 2009 season.

"It was a good moment because all Danny was trying to get was one more opportunity," Wasielewski said. "That's why he was playing in the UFL and keeping himself in great shape and working hard. That's what the Jets have given him. He took nothing for granted. This is his dream."

***

SEATTLE

Seahawks hoping to keep finding undrafted gems

SEATTLE -- Before they landed in Seattle's camp, Benson Mayowa and John Lotulelei knew nothing of the Seahawks' recent history of giving undrafted rookies a spot on the final 53-man roster.

All they understood was the difficulty of coming into a camp where there were very few position competitions and with a team facing high expectations.

While much of the focus when the Denver Broncos face the Seahawks on Saturday night will be on quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson, there are plenty of subplots.

One that has emerged in the three weeks of Seahawks camp is another possible influx of undrafted free agents making a splash.

While Seattle's current roster is littered with undrafted free agents, there are a handful that stood out in the preseason opener, including Mayowa, Lotulelei and offensive lineman Alvin Bailey.

***

BALTIMORE

Ravens seek cure for inconsistent offense

BALTIMORE -- With three weeks left before the start of the regular season, the Baltimore Ravens are still searching for consistency from their first-team offense.

The starting unit produced only three first downs and 13 yards rushing Thursday night in a preseason game against Atlanta. A 77-yard pass from Joe Flacco to Torrey Smith was the lone highlight from an offense that last season was the strength of the Super Bowl champions.

Baltimore (2-0) beat the Falcons 27-23 after the backups scored 20 points in the fourth quarter. That did not erase the fact that only one of six drives with Flacco on the field lasted more than three plays.

Flacco says, "We were just unable to get into a rhythm."

Ray Rice gained 10 yards on eight carries.

***

SAN DIEGO

Turnovers, special teams breakdowns hinder Bolts

BERNIE WILSON,AP Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Two exhibition games into the Mike McCoy era, the San Diego Chargers don't look that much different than they did in the final few years of the Norv Turner era.

The Chargers committed four turnovers and had some big special teams breakdowns in a 33-28 loss at Chicago on Thursday night.

McCoy says the final score was a little misleading in terms of how the defense played. He says the offense and special teams have to help pull their weight.

Defensive end Corey Liuget left late in the first quarter with a shoulder injury.

McCoy didn't have an update on Liuget's status on Friday, saying he was going to meet with the team trainer after holding his news conference.

***

SAN FRANCISCO

Delay for Joe Montana's hotel at new 49ers stadium

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Joe Montana's plan to build a new hotel and restaurant next to the 49ers' new Silicon Valley stadium is not advancing as quickly as expected.

The Hall of Fame quarterback had wanted the four-star hotel, upscale restaurant and sports bar to open in August 2014, when the 49ers move to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that Montana now hopes the complex will be open in time for the 50th Super Bowl in February 2016.

The plan is being delayed because Montana and his business partners haven't been able to reach a deal with Santa Clara officials on the value of city-owned land where the complex would be built. Another development project has also prompted new design work on the hotel.

***

MIAMI

John Offerdahl chosen for Dolphins Honor Roll

MIAMI -- Former linebacker John Offerdahl has been chosen to become the 26th member of the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll.

Offerdahl will be inducted Oct. 31 at halftime of the Dolphins' game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the team announced Friday.

He started 86 games during an eight-year career and became the first Dolphins linebacker to be selected a starter in the Pro Bowl. He was chosen for five consecutive Pro Bowls beginning in 1986, his rookie season, and was selected to start four times.